Paintbrush guide and guard device



April 1941- R. w. BRAINARD 2237,92?

PAINTBBUSH GUIDE AND GUARD DEVICE Filed Oct. 28, 1938 1 INVENTOR. Roscoe W EPA/HARD ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES AT NT F F i C E 4.- Claims.

This invention relates to paintbrushes, and more particularly to improved guide and guard means for facilitating the accurate use of a paintbrush in the painting of window sash, or in various other painting operations where it is desirable that the paint be applied close to, but not onto the glass or other corresponding surface.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved guide and guard device for a paintbrush which is of simple and economical construction and which can be readily applied to the brush as an attachment, or can be incorporated in the brush by the manufacturer.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved bristle guard for a paintbrush which will serve to keep the bristles from contacting an adjacent part or surface which is to be kept free from paint, but which is resilient and adapted to be readily flexed by engagement with the work so as not to interfere with or prevent the intended use of the brush.

A further object of my invention is to provide a combined guide and guard device for the purpose mentioned having spaced work-engaging portions, one of which is a laterally projecting guide engageable with the adjacent win dow pane or other surface for guiding the movement of the brush and the other'is a resiliently supported bristle guard for keeping the bristles away from the window pane or surface which is to be kept free of paint.

Still another object of my invention is to provide improved means for mounting a device of this character on a paintbrush.

My invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set out in the accompanying claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a paintbrush having my guide and guard device applied thereto and being used for painting window sash;

Fig. 2 is another perspective view showing the same paintbrush being used on window sash and further illustrating the function of my guide and guard device;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the brush looking toward the guide and guard device thereon;

Fig. 4 is a face view of a paintbrush equipped with a support for my guide and guard device;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of my guide and guard device showing the same detached from the paint brush;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the device;

Fig. '7 is an elevational view showing my guide and guard device applied to the face of a paintbrush;

Fig. 8 is an elevation or face view of a paintbrush having another form of my guide and guard device thereon;

Fig. 9 is an edge view of the brush;

Fig. 10 is a partial transverse sectional view taken on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an elevation or face view of a paintbrush showing still another form of my guide and guard device applied thereto; and

Fig. 12 is a partial face view thereof on a larger scale and with portions broken away to further illustrate the construction of this form of my guide and guard device.

For the purpose of describing the construction and manner of using my guide and guard device, more detailed reference will presently be made to the accompanying drawing in which I have shown several embodiments of my invention. However, before proceeding with such more detailed description it will be understood, of course, that the invention may be embodied in still other arrangements and forms of construction than those herein disclosed.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, I show my improved guide and guard device applied to a paintbrush H] for facilitating the accurate use of the brush in painting structures, such as the window sash l2 shown in this instance, where paint is to be applied to a portion of the structure such as the putty l3 and the frame I4, but the glass 15 or other correspondingly disposed surface is to be kept free of paint. The brush I!) may be one of conventional form comprising a handle l6 and bristles I! which may be connected with the handle by means of the usual metal bristle holder or head 18.

My guide and guard device may comprise a support 21! mounted on the brush and an elongated resilient member 2! adapted to be applied to the support so as to extend in the direction of the bristles H. The member 2| has longitudinally spaced portions 22 and 23 for engagement with the work, in this instance the glass It, and which serve respectively to guide the movement of the brush and to keep the bristles I! from coming in contact with the glass.

The support 29 may comprise a substantially L-shaped metal member having an arm 24 adapted to be driven into thebrush or otherwise secured thereto and a relatively longer arm portion 25 extending toward the tip of the brush and in spaced relation to the metal bristle holder l8. The member 2| may have a body portion in the form of a close-coiled helical wire spring 26 which is adapted to receive the arm 25 of the support 20 therein for connecting this member with the brush. The guide element 22 may be a laterally extending part or projection, of any suitable shape and construction, and carried by the upper end of the helical spring 26. In this instance the guide element is formed by bending a portion of the wire of the spring to the hook-like shape, shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The bristle guard 23 is carried by a resilient arm 21 which may be a straight or longitudinally extending portion of the wire of the lower end of the spring 26. The guard 23 may be a separate part or member mounted on the resilient arm 21 to provide an enlargement thereon adjacent the tip of the brush or, as shown in this instance, may be a ring or loop formed by a bent portion of the arm itself.

I have found it desirable to prevent the member 2| from rocking or rotating on the arm 25 of the support 20 and for this purpose I may construct the cooperating portions of the member and support of non-circular form. That is to say, I may construct the support 20, or at least the arm 25 thereof, as a flattened bar and may provide the upper end of the spring 26 with a slot-like restriction 28 in which the flattened arm 25 is frictionally slidable. The slot-like restriction 28 may be formed by appropriately bending or shaping the wire of one or more of the convolutions of the upper end of the spring 26.

During'use of the paintbrush l with my guide and guard device thereon, the guide element 22 engages the glass l or corresponding adjacent surface and guides the movement of the brush therealong. The bristle guard 23 also engages the glass or surface l5 and prevents the bristles from coming in contact therewith. The resiliency of the arm 21 which supports the guard 23 permits the latter to be readily shifted by engagement with the work. That is to"say;the arm 21 will readily flex in one plane by engagement of the guard with the putty l3 and will readily flex in a second plane by its engagement with the surface or glass I5. Thus, as seen from Fig. 2, the resilient arm 21 will readily deflect to an angular position relative to the axis of the brush which will permit the bristles to completely cover the putty l3 or corresponding surface which is to be painted but will prevent the bristles from contacting the glass or corresponding surface which is to remain unpainted. The engagement of the guide element 22 with the glass or surface l5 and the angular deflection of the resilient arm 21 permits the brush to readily assume an angle of inclination which is the most satisfactory for painting the putty and frame of the sash without causing the bristles to contact the glass.

The frictional engagement between the support and the spring 26 permits the member 2| to be readily removed from the brush or replaced thereon and also permits this member to be easily adjusted longitudinally of the brush to-locate the guard 23 at the most desirable position relative to the tip of the brush.

Instead of mounting my guide and guard device on the edge of the brush, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it may be desirable for certain painting operations to have such a device 2la located on one of the flat side faces of the brush lilo, as is illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing.

In .addition to its function as a brush guiding means, the hook-like projection may be used to hang the brush on the lip or edge of the cover opening of a paint can.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 I show another form of my guide and guard device which is somewhat simpler and which may be desirable, where the device is to be incorporated in the brush structure at the time of manufacture. In this form of my invention I show a paintbrush 30 having bristles 3| held by the metal member or head 32. A lateral projection or hollow bracket 33 may be provided on the brush as a support and connecting means for the bristle guard 34. The projection 33 may be a separate part suitably connected to the brush or may be formed integral with the metal member 32. The bristle guard may comprise an elongated member having a non-circular stem portion 35 frictionally engaging, or otherwise held, in the hollow projection 33 and a resilient arm. portion 36 carrying a guard member 31 at or adjacent its outer end.

The projection 33 may have a slot 33a therein which accommodates a pin or lug 35a projecting from the stem. portion 35. This projecting pin prevents the stem portion 35 from becoming accidentally disengaged from the projection or socket 33 and provides a means for easily adjusting the position of the guard member 3'! with respect to the tip of the brush.

In this form of my invention the lateral projection 33, or some portion thereof, such as its lower corner 38, may serve as a guide element corresponding with the guide element 22 of the device of Fig. 1.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a further modification of my invention in which the bristle guard 40 is pivotally mounted so that it can be swung to a position adjacent the bristles 4| of the brush, as shown in full lines, or can be swung to the broken line position when its use is not desired. In this form of my invention I provide a lateral projection or hollow bracket 42 on the brush as a support for the guard 40. This projection may be a separate part or may be an integral portion of the metal bristle holding member 43 of the brush. The projection 42 may also serve as a guide element corresponding with the guide element 22 of the device shown in Fig. 1.

The guard 40 may comprise a resilient arm formed of spring wire, or other suitable material, having an eye 44 at its upper end which is adapted to be pivotally connected with the projection 42 by the transverse pivot pin 45. The resilient arm may have a guard member 46 at its lower end, such as a wire loop or other enlargement suitable for the purpose desired. The projection 42 preferably has a shoulder or stop 4! thereon for positioning the arm with respect to the bristles 4|. The resiliency of the arm and the proximity of the stop 41 to the pivot pin 45 permits the guard to be readily flexed, by engagement with the work, in a manner similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In the various forms of my device herein illustrated, I show the guard element as being bowed P or transversely curved. This is not necessary to the successful operation of the device, but may be desirable for securing asmoother sliding of the guard over the surface of the glass or other portion of the work which is engaged thereby.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing, it will now be readily understood that I have provided a simple and economical form of guide and guard device for paintbrushes which can be readily applied to the brush or incorporated therein and which will greatly facilitate the accurate use of paintbrushes on window sash or other kinds of work where paint is to be applied to a strip or surface without being also applied to a strip or surface contiguous thereto. It will be seen furthermore that the guide element of my device causes the brush to be held at the most satisfactory angle of inclination and that the resiliency of the guard portion of my device permits flexing thereof in different planes by engagement with the Work so that it will permit the bristles to closely approach an adjacent contiguous surface Without actually contacting such surface.

While I have illustrated and described my guide and guard device in a somewhat detailed manner, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein disclosed, but regard my invention as including such changes and modifications as do not constitute a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a paintbrush having an arm mounted thereon to extend longitudinally of the brush in spaced relation to a portion of the brush, a guide and guard device comprising a helical spring adapted to receive said arm therein for connecting the device with the brush, said spring carrying laterally projecting guide means adjacent its upper end and its lower end carrying a bristle guard.

2. In combination, a paintbrush having a handle structure and bristles connected therewith, a laterally projecting part on the handle structure above the bristles adapted to engage the Work as a guide element, an arm pivoted on said part for swinging into or out of a position adjacent the bristles of the brush, a stop for positioning the arm with respect to the bristles, and a bristle guard carried by the outer end of said arm and adapted to be supported thereby adjacent the tip of the brush, said arm being resiliently flexible and capable of deflection in two planes upon engagement of said guard with the work during use of the brush.

3. In combination with a paintbrush having a handle structure and bristles connected therewith, an elongated guard device comprising a wire spring having one end thereof mounted on the handle structure of the brush and its other end providing a free arm portion extending along the bristles toward the tip of the brush but being normally spaced from the bristles, and a guard element on the outer end of said arm and supported thereby adjacent the tip of the brush so as to also be normally spaced from the bristles, said arm being resiliently flexible and capable of deflection in two planes upon engagement of said guard element with the work during use of the brush.

4. A guide and guard device for use on a paintbrush, comprising an elongated member having an attaching portion for connection with the brush and an arm portion adapted to extend in spaced relation adjacent the bristles of the brush and in the direction thereof, a guide element carried by said attaching portion and projecting therefrom for guiding cooperation with the Work, and a guard element on the outer end of said arm portion and supported thereby adjacent the tip of the brush so as to be normally spaced from the bristles, at least said arm portion of the device being resiliently flexible and capable of deflection in two planes upon engagement of said guard element with the work during use of a brush having the device applied thereto.

ROSCOE W. BRAINARD. 

